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| | HR0980 | | LRB102 29414 ECR 41407 r |
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| 1 | | HOUSE RESOLUTION
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| 2 | | WHEREAS, The members of the Illinois House of |
| 3 | | Representatives wish to congratulate Thomas "Tom" Ramage, |
| 4 | | Ed.D., on the occasion of his retirement as president of |
| 5 | | Parkland College, Illinois Community College District #505; |
| 6 | | and
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| 7 | | WHEREAS, Dr. Ramage, the fifth president of Parkland |
| 8 | | College, will retire at the end of the Fall 2022 semester after |
| 9 | | 15 years as president and 25 years of service to the |
| 10 | | institution; and
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| 11 | | WHEREAS, The conclusion of Dr. Ramage's career will |
| 12 | | coincide with Parkland College enrolling its 350,000th student |
| 13 | | this academic year since its inception in 1966 and its first |
| 14 | | academic year in 1967; and
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| 15 | | WHEREAS, Under Dr. Ramage's leadership, Parkland College |
| 16 | | completed a $92 million Campus Master Plan that created six |
| 17 | | new buildings on campus, adding 250,000 square feet of |
| 18 | | classrooms, labs, and student services spaces to provide |
| 19 | | quality education and training facilities for students |
| 20 | | residing within the 3,000 square mile district; and
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| 21 | | WHEREAS, During Dr. Ramage's tenure, Parkland College has |
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| | HR0980 | - 2 - | LRB102 29414 ECR 41407 r |
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| 1 | | continued to adapt to the changing needs of industry by |
| 2 | | acquiring the Institute of Aviation at Willard Airport from |
| 3 | | the University of Illinois in 2014 and by forming lasting |
| 4 | | relationships with corporate partners, including Case New |
| 5 | | Holland, AGCO, Microsoft, Cisco Systems, Ford Motor Company, |
| 6 | | Frasca International, and Kraft, among others; and
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| 7 | | WHEREAS, Dr. Ramage's oversight has permitted Parkland |
| 8 | | College to continue leading the Illinois community college |
| 9 | | system by enrolling more than 350 international students, |
| 10 | | representing well over 50 countries, each academic year; and
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| 11 | | WHEREAS, Dr. Ramage's steady leadership and fiscal |
| 12 | | management have guided Parkland College through a recession, a |
| 13 | | state budget crisis, and a pandemic; despite these challenges, |
| 14 | | he ensured Parkland College maintained a balanced budget and a |
| 15 | | healthy fund balance; and
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| 16 | | WHEREAS, Dr. Ramage will continue to reside in Champaign |
| 17 | | County with his wife, Michelle, his son, Colin, his |
| 18 | | daughter-in-law, Megan, and his grandson, Sean Thomas, as |
| 19 | | valued members of the community; and
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| 20 | | WHEREAS, Dr. Ramage leaves behind a legacy of excellence |
| 21 | | and has set Parkland College on a trajectory of success; |
| 22 | | therefore, be it
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| | HR0980 | - 3 - | LRB102 29414 ECR 41407 r |
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| 1 | | RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE ONE |
| 2 | | HUNDRED SECOND GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that |
| 3 | | we congratulate Thomas "Tom" Ramage, Ed.D., on his retirement |
| 4 | | from Parkland College, thank him for his leadership and |
| 5 | | service to the institution, and wish him all the best in his |
| 6 | | future endeavors; and be it further
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| 7 | | RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be |
| 8 | | presented to Dr. Ramage as a symbol of our esteem and resect.
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